The Apostles' Creed

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The Apostles' Creed

Study Guide
LESSON
THREE JESUS CHRIST
2013 by Third Millennium Ministries

For videos, manuscripts, and other resources, visit Third Millennium Ministries at thirdmill.org.
www.thirdmill.org
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CONTENTS
HOW TO USE THIS LESSON AND STUDY GUIDE ................................................. 3
NOTES ............................................................................................................................... 4
I. INTRODUCTION (1:01) .......................................................................................... 4
II. DIVINITY (2:55) ....................................................................................................... 4
A. Son of God (4:35) ................................................................................................ 4
B. Lord (13:13) ......................................................................................................... 6
III. HUMANITY (18:12) ................................................................................................. 7
A. Experiences (19:27) ............................................................................................. 7
1. Generation (20:24) ......................................................................................... 7
2. Body (24:49) .................................................................................................. 8
3. Soul (27:02) ................................................................................................... 9
4. Resurrection (29:17) .................................................................................... 10
B. Office (32:03) ..................................................................................................... 10
1. Old Testament Background (32:43) ............................................................ 10
2. Fulfillment in Jesus (38:28) ......................................................................... 11
C. Nature (44:22) .................................................................................................... 11
IV. WORK (57:29)......................................................................................................... 13
A. Humiliation (58:26)............................................................................................ 13
1. Incarnation (59:37) ...................................................................................... 13
2. Passion (1:07:47) ......................................................................................... 14
B. Exaltation (1:17:36) ........................................................................................... 16
1. Resurrection (1:19:05) ................................................................................. 17
2. Ascension (1:23:12) ..................................................................................... 17
3. Enthronement (1:26:06) ............................................................................... 18
4. Judgment (1:28:45) ...................................................................................... 18
V. CONCLUSION (1:31:40) ........................................................................................ 18
REVIEW QUESTIONS ................................................................................................. 19
APPLICATION QUESTIONS ...................................................................................... 24
GLOSSARY..................................................................................................................... 25
The Apostles' Creed

Lesson 3: Jesus Christ
2010 by Third Millennium Ministries www.thirdmill.org
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HOW TO USE THIS LESSON AND STUDY GUIDE

This study guide is designed for use in conjunction with the associated video lesson. If
you do not have access to the video, the study guide will also work with the audio and/or
text versions of the lesson. Additionally, the lesson and study guide are intended to be
used in a learning community, but they also can be used for individual study if necessary.
Before you watch the lesson

o Prepare Complete any recommended readings.
o Schedule viewing In the Notes section of the study guide, the lesson
has been divided into sections that correspond to the video. Using the time
codes found in parentheses beside each major division, determine where to
begin and end your viewing session. IIIM lessons are densely packed with
information, so you may also want to schedule breaks. Breaks should be
scheduled at major divisions.
While you are watching the lesson
o Take notes The Notes section of the study guide contains a basic
outline of the lesson, including the time codes for the beginning of each
section and key notes to guide you through the information. Many of the
main ideas are already summarized, but make sure to supplement these
with your own notes. You should also add supporting details that will help
you to remember, describe, and defend the main ideas.
o Record comments and questions As you watch the video, you may
have comments and/or questions on what you are learning. Use the
margins to record your comments and questions so that you can share
these with the group following the viewing session.
o Pause/replay portions of the lesson You may find it helpful to pause
or replay the video at certain points in order to write additional notes,
review difficult concepts, or discuss points of interest.
After you watch the lesson
o Complete Review Questions Review Questions are based on the basic
content of the lesson. You should answer Review Questions in the space
provided. These questions should be completed individually rather than in
a group.
o Answer/discuss Application Questions Application Questions are
questions relating the content of the lesson to Christian living, theology,
and ministry. Application questions are appropriate for written
assignments or as topics for group discussions. For written assignments, it
is recommended that answers not exceed one page in length.
2013 by Third Millennium Ministries

www.thirdmill.org
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Notes
I. Introduction (1:01)
No other figure in history has been as widely admired or had as much impact on
society as Jesus of Nazareth.
II. Divinity (2:55)
Christians have always intended words like Christ, Son of God, and Lord to
indicate Jesus divinity.
A. Son of God (4:35)
Son of God is often used for beings that are not divine:
Angels (Job 1:6; 2:1)

The nation of Israel (Ex. 4:22; Hosea 11:1)
Kings of Israel (2 Samuel 7:14; Psalm 2:7)
Adam (Luke 3:38)
Believers (Matt. 5:9, 45; Luke 20:36; Romans 8:14, 19; Gal. 3:26)
The Apostles' Creed

Notes 5
Jesus is Gods son in a unique way.
Jesus as the divine and eternal Son of God is reflected in the doctrine of
the Trinity.
Ontological perspective:
Equal in power and glory to the Father and Holy Spirit
Infinite, eternal, unchangeable
Same divine attributes
o Wisdom
o Power
o Holiness
o Justice
o Goodness
o Truth
The Apostles' Creed

Notes 6
Economic perspective:
Different responsibilities
Different levels of authority
Different assigned roles
o Christ is subordinate to the Fathers authority
o The Son has authority over the Holy Spirit
B. Lord (13:13)
Kurios: ruler or master (common)
When Jewish scholars translated the Old Testament, they used the term
kurios to translate the sacred name of God: Yahweh.
The use of the word kurios in the New Testament often implies that Jesus
is divine.
The Apostles' Creed

Notes 7
Implications for the Christian life:
acknowledge and worship Jesus as God
pray to him just as we do to the Father and Spirit
know that God himself has redeemed us from sin
III. Humanity (18:12)
In the early church it was common for people to question the humanity of Jesus.
A. Experiences (19:27)
Several of Jesus experiences prove that he was truly human.
1. Generation (20:24)
Conception and Birth:

unusual details
o Conceived by the Holy Spirit
o Mother was a virgin
The Apostles' Creed

Notes 8
essential human experiences

o Began as a tiny baby in his mothers womb
o Formed the same as God molds every human baby
o Did not appear magically or descend from heaven
2. Body (24:49)
The Creed attributes experiences to Jesus that would only have

been possible if he was truly a physical human being.
Jesus was a real man with a physical human body.
The Apostles' Creed

Notes 9
A genuine human being had to suffer physical divine judgment to

atone for the sins of humanity.
3. Soul (27:02)
Human beings consist of a mortal body that houses an immortal

soul.
The words soul and spirit refer to all the inner, non-physical
aspects of our being as a whole.
While Jesus body would be placed in the grave, his spirit or soul
would be in the hands of God the Father. (Luke 23:46)
The Apostles' Creed

Notes 10
4. Resurrection (29:17)
The resurrection proves that Jesus was a real human being because
it included the reunion of his real human body with his real human
soul.
B. Office (32:03)
The word Christ is actually the title of Jesus office, similar to words like
king or judge.
1. Old Testament Background (32:43)
Christ:
christos (Greek)
mashiach or messiah (Hebrew)
anointed one
o anyone God appointed to serve him specially
o sons of David
o great king descended from David
The Apostles' Creed

Notes 11
2. Fulfillment in Jesus (38:28)
Jesus is the great messiah that the Old Testament anticipated.
The Messiah had to be human:
Son of David
atoning sacrifice
second Adam
C. Nature (44:22)
Jesus possesses all the attributes and traits that are essential to being
human.
The Apostles' Creed

Notes 12
Jesus differs from other human beings in some important ways:
perfect human being
two natures
Hypostatic union: Jesus is one person with two distinct natures (a divine
nature and a human nature) with each nature retaining its own attributes.
Philippians 2:5-7
Chalcedonian Creed
o One person
o Two natures
The Apostles' Creed

Notes 13
Implications for the way we live:
We have an effective human mediator between us and God.
Jesus has constituted a new human race.
We can approach the throne of grace with confidence.
IV. Work (57:29)
A. Humiliation (58:26)
The Son of God caused his glory to be veiled and hidden from sight, and
subjected himself to suffering and indignity.
1. Incarnation (59:37)
Incarnation refers to Jesus permanently taking on a human nature.
The Apostles' Creed

Notes 14
The work of incarnation accomplished three things:
a. Davidic King
Jesus could only claim Davids throne if he had a human

father who descended from David.
b. High Priest
The incarnation gave him the mercy and sympathy he

needed to be an effective high priest.
c. Atoning Sacrifice
Jesus had to be human in order to die in place of his

people.
2. Passion (1:07:47)
The term passion refers to Jesus suffering and death.
The Apostles' Creed

Notes 15
Jesus suffering was necessary to teach him obedience, and to

commend him to God the Father.
It was Jesus death that atoned for our sin and accomplished our
salvation.
Jesus underwent the normal human experience of death. The

Apostles Creed says, He descended into hell.
Interpretation:
Jesus was buried (unlikely)
hell: underworld that contains the souls of the dead
Jesus soul descended into the underworld between his death

and resurrection.
The Apostles' Creed

Notes 16
Nature of hell:
Sheol (HebrewOld Testament)
Hades (GreekNew Testament)
The most likely meaning is that Jesus human soul descended to

the place of the departed spirits.
Jesus passion shows us what it means to be truly human in a fallen

world.
B. Exaltation (1:17:36)
Christs exaltation was more than an unveiling of his veiled glory.
The Apostles' Creed

Notes 17
1. Resurrection (1:19:05)
Christs resurrection was just as important to our salvation as his

death.
We were raised in new life through his resurrection.
2. Ascension (1:23:12)
Jesus was taken bodily into heaven.
Jesus ascended to:
prepare places for believers in heaven (John 14:2-3)
send the Holy Spirit to empower the church (John 16:7)
complete the work of atonement that he began on the cross

(Hebrews 8-9)
intercede for us (Hebrews 7:24-25)
The Apostles' Creed

Notes 18
3. Enthronement (1:26:06)
Jesus is our great human king with a throne in heaven that sits to
the right of the Fathers great throne.
Jesus is also spoken of as a priest who intercedes for his people.
4. Judgment (1:28:45)
Jesus will render royal judgment against those who have violated
his laws and not respected his kingship and kingdom.
Good news: Those who are united to Christ by faith will receive
an eternal blessing and inheritance.
Bad news: Those who are not found in Christ will bear the full
brunt of Gods wrath.
V. Conclusion (1:31:40)
The Apostles' Creed

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Review Questions
1. What do the Scriptures mean by the term Son of God when it is applied to
Jesus?
2. How does the title Lord point to the divinity of Jesus?
The Apostles' Creed

Review Questions 20
3. In what ways do Jesus experiences prove that he was truly human?
4. What does the Old Testament title Christ mean? How does Jesus fulfill this
office?
The Apostles' Creed

Review Questions 21
5. How does the fulfillment of the office of Christ point to his humanity?
6. Discuss Jesus human nature and its relationship to his divine nature.
The Apostles' Creed

Review Questions 22
7. Why was the incarnation necessary? What did Jesus accomplish by it?
8. Why did Jesus subject himself to arrest, suffering, and crucifixion?
The Apostles' Creed

Review Questions 23
9. Explain the phrase in the Apostles Creed he descended into hell.
10. Discuss the four parts of the exaltation of Jesus.
The Apostles' Creed

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Application Questions
1. How can Jesus divinity give us greater trust in him?
2. How does Jesus humanity allow him to identify with us?
3. How should a proper understanding of the Trinity, together with Christs divinity
and humanity, influence the way we pray?
4. How does the divinity of Christ help us understand Gods love for us?
5. What does Jesus possession of a real, physical body suggest about the way we
ought to treat our own bodies?
6. In what way can Jesus role as our mediator give us confidence before God
without fear? In what ways is it proper for a Christian to fear God?
7. How can the humiliation that Christ endured for us encourage us as we endure
trials and struggles in this life?
8. How is our new life in Christ generated by his resurrection from the dead?
9. Why is the church better off with the presence of the Holy Spirit than with the
physical presence of Jesus?
10. How can the Creed comfort us as we look forward to the final judgment?
11. What is the most significant thing you learned in this lesson?
The Apostles' Creed

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Glossary
Chalcedon City in Asia Minor where a church kurios Greek word (transliteration) meaning
council was held in A.D. 451 to defend "lord," "ruler," "master" or "sir"; a name for God
traditional Christian doctrines and deny heresies in the New Testament
Chalcedonian Creed Creed written in A.D. mashiach/meshiach Hebrew word

451 by a church council in the city of Chalcedon (transliteration) for "messiah"; anointed one
that affirmed, among other things, that Jesus is
"truly God and truly man"; also called the Passion From the Greek word "pascho"
Chalcedonian Symbol, and the Definition of (transliteration) meaning "to suffer"; refers to
Chalcedon Jesus suffering and death, beginning the night of
his arrest
Christos Greek word (transliteration) for
Christ; used in the Septuagint to translate Septuagint Greek translation of the Old
"mashiach" or "messiah," meaning "anointed Testament
one"
Session Theological term used to refer to Jesus'
Hades Greek term (transliteration) used in the ongoing rule and ministry of intercession while
New Testament, usually meaning the abode of seated at the right hand of God the Father
wicked souls, but sometimes referring to the
place of both the righteous and the wicked sheol Hebrew term (transliteration) used in the
Old Testament to refer to the place of departed
Hypostasis Greek term meaning "underlying spirits, both the righteous and the wicked
substance or nature"; used in the early centuries
after Christ to express the doctrine that the divine Soul The immortal, immaterial part of a human
nature and the human nature of Christ are united being; all the inner, non-physical aspects of our
in one "person" being
Hypostatic union Phrase used to express the Tertullian (ca. A.D. 155 - 230) Early Christian
doctrine that the divine and human natures of writer and church father from Carthage who
Christ are united in one person wrote Against Marcion and popularized the Latin
terminology used to discuss the Trinity
Ignatius (ca. A.D. 50 - 108) Church father and
third Bishop of Antioch who wrote a series of Trinity Theological term used to express the
letters to early Christians addressing a number of fact that God is one essence in three persons
important theological topics
Incarnation Term that refers to Jesus'

permanent assumption of a human nature
The Apostles' Creed


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2013 by Third Millennium Ministries

HOW TO USE THIS LESSON AND STUDY GUIDE ................................................. 3

REVIEW QUESTIONS ................................................................................................. 19

APPLICATION QUESTIONS ...................................................................................... 24